Welcoming New Year, Talk on Muharram

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله و بركته

كلّ عام و أنتم بخير

Happy New Year

   I welcome you to the New Islamic Year 1441. The commencement of a new year actually means the cut off from our limited lifespan. Still we do it. Yes, sure! We should do it with prayers of more prosper, peaceful, secure and spiritual year. 

   The Islamic year starts with the rise of first night moon of Muharam. The first month Muharram is littered with several amazing and unnatural events.  The most memorable took place in the 10th of Muharram is the Event of Karbala which still instills into the hearts of devout Muslims the spirit to distinguish between right and wrong and reminds us the eternity of truth.

   I’ll talk focusing on this blessed day. Before this, it is better to get a sketch about the importance and starting of Hijri Calendar. Muslims use the calendar to determine their all religious programmes. The first night new moon is considered as the starting a year of the Islamic Calendar. Its lunar dating system is widely used than the solar.

   The Hijri Calendar was introduced by the second caliph of Islam Hazrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) in 638 A.D, after sixteen years of the Prophet’s (صلي الله عليه و سلّم)   migration from Mecca to Medina. The significance of a calendar was recognized first by Abu Musa al-Asha’ri (رضي الله عنه). He wrote a letter to Umar (رضي الله عنه) and said that he read a document dated Sha’ban but, he didn’t get which Sha’ban was that- the past or upcoming? Umar (رضي الله عنه) considered the matter and decided to have a calendar. He called for scholarly companions of Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه و سلّم)   and consulted with them the matter. A Persian converted to Islam remembered their dating system in the court of Umar (رضي الله عنه)... Thus the calendar system came in Islam. The migration of Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه و سلّم)   from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. was dated as the first year of this Islamic Calendar, because the migration was the most turning-point in Islamic history and the dating of migration bears no controversy. The Muharram was selected as first month, because the planning and preparation for the migration started in this month.   

   The 1oth Muharram is generally known as A’shora among Muslims. There are several narrations regarding the importance of A’shora. The forth Caliph A’li (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه و سلّم) said, “If you take fast in a month rather than Ramadan, then do it in Muharram.” 

(فإنّه شهر الله  فيه يوم تاب الله علي قوم و يتوب علي آخرين .  (النسائي

“Because it is the month of Allah, in which there is a day Allah accepted the repentance of a community and will accept from others.” 

So, we should engage in this blessed day in good deeds like prayer, repentance and recitation. 

When the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه و سلّم) went to Medina, he ﷺ found the Yahud (Jews) People in the fast of A’shora. The he ﷺ asked them the reason. They said that Allah had saved Musa (عليه الصلاة والسلام) and his people and destroyed Fira’un (Pharaoh) and his army. Then Musa (عليه الصلاة والسلام) performed fast on that day being grateful to the grace mercy of Allah. That’s why, as followers of Musa (عليه الصلاة والسلام), we used to take fast on that day. Then the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه و سلّم) said:

 (فنحن أحق و أولي بموسي منكم .  (متفق عليه

“We are more rightful and close to Musa.”

   Then the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه و سلّم) took the fast and ordered his companions to do so.

   Reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه و سلّم) was asked about fasting on the day of A’shora, and then he said:

(يكفر السنة الماضية .  (المسلم

“It expiates the (committed sins in) the past.”

The Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه و سلّم) said: 

(صوموا التاسع و العاشر و لا تشبهوا باليهود.  (البيهقي

“Take fast in the ninth and tenth (of Muharram) and don’t resemble to Yahud.” 

   So, if a person takes fast in 10th Muharram or A’shora, he should add 9th or 11th of the month (according to Hanafi School of Thought). So that he would not resemble to any community. 

   We should avail of all opportunities to record our new year with good actions. May Allah bless us! 

أمين...

كلّ عام و أنتم بخير

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله و بركته